Joseph w



7 a r-u (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. W. NETHERY.

OONVEYER.

Patented June 6, 1.893.

WITNESSES INVENTOR ymwmw er Wfi 4/ I THE Noims vrrzns no, Puotoumo WASHINDTON. n. c.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. W. NETHBRY.

' GONVEYER.

Patented June 6, 1893.

INVENTOI? PW 1:2;- M

, Arrow UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

JOSEPH NETHERY, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO THE INDIANA MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

CONVEYER.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent NO. 498,903, dated June 6, 1893. Application filed November 8, 1892. Serial No- 451,334. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH W. NETHERY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic Straw- Elevators, of which the following is a specification.

My said invention relates to that class of machines known as pneumatic straw elevators of which the Patent No. 467,47 6 to James Buchanan dated January 19, 1892, is an example; and it consists in various improvements of construction and arrangement of parts whereby such a machine is rendered more efiioient and better adapted to its Work, particularly in connection with clover hulling machines, all as will be hereinafter more particularly described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof, and on which similar letters of reference indicate similar parts, Figure 1 is a central sectional view of a machine provided with my improvements, that portion whereof which contains the thrasher cylinder or beater being broken away, as the same is not peculiar to my invention; Fig. 2 a top or plan view of the same; Fig. 3 a transverse vertical sectional View looking toward the right from the dotted line 3 3 in Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 a perspective View of the elevator trunk.

In said drawings the portions marked A represent the thrashing machine huller or separator; 13 an extension secured to the rear end thereof; 0 the trunk of the elevator; D a Windlass for adjusting said elevator; E a hood on said elevator; F a lever for adjusting said hood, and G a fan shaft.

The frame-work or casingA is or may be of any usual or desired construction. The machine shown is a clover huller, and embodies the special construction, so far as it is illustrated, which such a huller requires. To this the parts are attached which are peculiar to my invention. The sill A is secured to the ordinary sill, and forms substantially an extension thereof, and upon this is mounted the fan and other parts involved in my invention.

Within the rear end of the casing A but attached to the extension B are curved portions A which extend from the sides down to alongside the nozzle of the fan, at the point where the straw falls after being thrashed, as shown most plainly in Fig 3 This construction serves to direct the straw immediately in front of the blast of air, as the straw, when it falls onto the inclined surfaces of these parts, naturally gravitates down them toward the center in front of the fan nozzle, and none is left at the sides Where the air blast either could not reach it or would be so weak as not to be effective to force it into the trunk of the elevator. This formation also prevents any eddying of the air around the sides of the fan nozzle, as they close the space in which any such eddies might form.

The extension B is secured to the body A of the machine by hinges b or otherwise, and extends at some distance to the rear of the machine with its upper side in line with the top of the machine, and its under side inclined in line with the under side of the nozzle of the fan as shown. Glover hullers require to be opened frequently for cleaning, and this part B being hinged can be raised up conveniently, carrying the parts A with it leaving substantially the Whole rear end of the machine open.

The trunk C of the straw elevator is secured to the extension B by hinges c, and extends out to the desired distance to which it is desired to carry the straw or other substance discharged from the machine. At its point of union with the extension B there are wings 1) extending into the same from the said projection by which the closed condition of the sides is maintained as said trunk is raised and lowered, as will be readily understood. The trunk itself is tapered somewhat from the point where it is connected to the extension 13, to the end, and thus embodies what may be known as a choke bore arrangement, whereby the air blast is caused to be increased in force as it approaches the point of discharge, and thus the tendency to retard the passage of the straw produced by the friction thereof upon the interior surfaces of the trunk is counteracted, and the straw is discharged from the mouth of the trunk with as great or a greater force than it enters it. When it'is remembered that this invention is intended to pack the straw closely in the stack, as well as to discharge it from the machine onto said stack, the importance of this will be manifest. Practically, the result is that the straw is thrown down onto the stack with great force, and packed much more closely than it is in the old fashioned method, by hand, and a much more evenly packed stack is formed, and the contents of the stack are thus put in condition to be preserved much better, than when stacked unevenly by the old process.

The Windlass D has a rope D which runs to the top of a swinging post D from the top of which post is a rope or r'od D which runs to a bail D pivoted to the outer end of said trunk C. By winding said Windlass D, therefore, the trunk may be raised, and by unwinding it, it may be lowered, the post D meanwhile swinging from one position to the other, its extreme position being indicated by dotted lines. A continuance of the winding up of this Windlass will also raise the extension B, opening the rear end of the machine,

, when the parts are constructed as shown.

The hood E is similar to that shown in the aforementioned Letters Patent, except that it is improved somewhat in form and construction. It is hinged to the trunk G by the hinges e, and wings \V extend back over the sides of the trunk C from said hood, thus keeping the sides closed when the hood is partially or wholly raised, instead of leaving openings at these points. The positions of said hood are indicated by dotted lines.

The handle F is'pivoted atf upon the top of the trunk O, and is connected by means of the rod F with a standard E on the hood E. A ratchet plate F is secured upon the trunk O surrounding the pivot f, and one or more teeth or projections on the under side of the handle F fit into the cogs of said plate. A wing-nut f on the pivot-bolt f enables these parts to be loosened and tightened at pleasure, and the lever F to be manipulated or looked as may be desired, and as will be readily understood. x

The fan shaft G is mounted in hearings on the frame-work A. The bearings at the end of said shaft are ordinary bearings; but there are provided inside the machine close alongside the fan-casing other bearings, G, which are in the form of arches extending across to timbers a, and having downwardly projecting portions g which engageimmediately with said shaft G. These bearings are of great importance in steadying the shaft and preventing any vibration thereof, while at the same time permitting said shaft to be much lighter than could otherwise be the case, and they are protected from the straw, &c., by the shield g. Upon said shaft G the fan is mounted within a casing G said fan and said casing being in themselves of substantially the ordinary and well known construction. The

outside nozzle is so positioned, however, that its relation to the extension B and the trunk O puts said several parts in substantially a straight line.

In straw elevators of this general character heretofore made there has been a curvature between the discharging point of the nozzle and the general direction of the trunk of the elevator around which the blasthas necessarily had to travel. It is obvious that such a change of the direction of the blast resists its force and impairs its efficiency. My arrangement, therefore, by which the blast is substantially in a straight line is a radical improvement, and effects a great saving of power.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new, and-desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, of a separator, a blast fan, an extension mounted upon the rear end of said separator, and a trunk mounted on said extension, the nozzle of the'fan, the trunk and the extension between them being arranged to permit the blast of air to travel in a direct line through them, substantially as set forth.

I 2. The combination, with a separator and the trunk of a pneumatic straw elevator, of an extension B attached to and substantially covering the rear end of the separator and extending in straight lines which approach each other to the point where the trunk is attached thereto.

3. The combination, in a pneumatic straw elevator and stacker, of the frame-work or casing, the blast fan located therein,.and inclinedportions extending down from the sides of the casing to alongside the nozzle of the fan at the point where the straw falls after being thrashed, thereby directing the straw into the path of the air blast.

4:. The combination, in a pneumatic straw elevator, of the trunk O, the hood E hinged to its outer end, and wings W extending from said hood back over said trunk,.substantia1ly as and for the purposes set forth.

5. The combination, in a pneumatic straw elevator, of the trunk, a hood hinged thereto, and a handle F, rod F, and ratchet plate F whereby said hood may be raised and lowered, and means whereby said handle and said ratchet plate may be locked together, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of a separator, a pneumatic straw elevator and stacker, and means for raising and lowering the same consisting of a Windlass, a standard mounted on the top of the separator, a bail connected to the trunk of the elevator, and connections running from said bail to said standard and thence to the Windlass, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination in a pneumatic straw elevator, with the fan shaft thereof, of bearings G located closely alongside the fan, and

and for the purposes set forth.

8. The combination, in a pneumatic straw In witness whereof I have hereunto set my elevator, with the fan-shaft thereof, of arched hand and seal, at Indianapolis, Indiana, this r bearings G located closely alongside the fan 1st day of November, A. D. 1892.

within the machine, thus supporting said JOSEPH W. NETHERY. [L. 8.] 5 shaft close to its point of work and prevent- Witnesses:

ing vibration, substantially as shown and de- CHESTER BRADFORD,

scribed. JAMES A. WALSH. 

